Secondary or storage battery.



C. W. NORTON.

SECONDARY 0R STORAGE BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13. 1914.

1,204,481. Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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CHARLES W. NORTON, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO EDISONSTORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed August 13, 1914. Serial No. 856,527.

particularly to the mechanical details of construction thereof; andwhile the present improvements have'been designed especially for use inconnection with storage batteries of the Edison type wherein insolubleactive materials are employed in an alkaline electrolyte, it is to beunderstood that the invention is also applicable for use in storagebatteries of other types.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improvedconstruction for storage battery cells, adapted especially for cellshaving a high capacity and discharge rate such as thoseused ininstallations on submarine vessels, which may be easily and quicklyassembled and whereby such cells will be rendered lighter and cheaper tomanufacture and the operation thereof will be im roved and theirefiiciencv increased.

My invention also contemplates the provision of improved means forconnecting adjacent cells of this type whereby there will be a moreuniform distribution of the current among the plates of each cell thanis obtained by the usual construction, and whereby such cells will bemaintained in proper spaced relation and be mutually braced.

Other features of my invention reside in the details of construction andcombinations of elements hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention isdirected to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of apair of cells equippedwith my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation andpartly broken away, taken approximately on the broken line 22 of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a sectional view, partly broken away, taken approximately 011line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view, partly broken away,taken approximately on line 4+4 of Fig. 2.

In all the views of the drawing, corresponding parts are designated bythe same reference characters.

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1 represents the cans orcontainers of two secondary cells or batteries, which coutainers aresubstantially rectangular in form and preferably have the tops 2 weldedto the side walls, as is usual in storage batteries of the Edison type.

Within the container of each cell is disposed a bank or group ofpositive and negative plates or elements 3 and 4. These positive andnegative plates are preferably alternately arranged side by side andextend transversely of the container, and the number of negative platespreferably exceeds the number of positive plates by one, whereby bothoutside plates adjacent the front and rear walls of the container willbe of negative polarity. Each plate preferably c0mprises a substantiallyrectangular grid provided with a plurality of vertical rows of equalsized openings 5, whereby the grid is formed with the vertical strips orrisers 6, 7, 8 and 9 adjacent the openings. In the openings 5 of eachgrid are suitably secured the positive or negative tubes or pockets, thepositive tubes 10 preferably being vertically disposed and the negativepockets 11 preferably being horizontally disposed.

In order to increase the conductivity or current carrying capacity ofeach grid toward the pole side thereof, the strips 7 and 8 are widerthan strip 6 and strip 9 is wider than strips 7 and 8. The risers 7 and8 are preferably of equal width whereby the vertical rows of openings inany grid may be and are respectively registered with the vertical rowsof openings in the adjacent grids to obtain the most effective relativepositioning of the positive and negative tubes or pockets carriedthereby. Owing to the difference in width of risers 6 and 9, thepositive plates will project be yond the negative plates at one side ofthe cell and the negative plates will project beyond the positive platesat the other side of the cell, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Theprojecting portions of the positive and negative plates at the oppositesides of the cell are respectively rigidly secured together and theplates are spaced and insulated from each other and from the adjacentside walls of container 1,, preferably by means of bolts 12 andinsulating blocks 13 of hard rubber mounted on the bolts. All the platesare rigidly secured together and spaced and insulated from each other attheir upper portions preferably by means of bolts 1% and hard rubberwashers or sleeves 15 mounted on these bolts. The plates are supportedat their lower edges and insulated from the bottom of the can orcontainer 1 and insulated and spaced from the front and rear walls ofthe container means (not shown). The positive tubes 10 and negativepockets 1.1 of adjacent plates 3 and a are suitably insulated andseparated from each other, preferably by means of inverted U-shaped hardrubber strips 16 which pass through and are supported by the plates 3 atthe upper portions of the latter above tubes 10. The construction abovedescribed is similar to that disclose: and claimed in an application ofMiller Beese'Hutchison and Charles 1V. Norton, Serial No. 856,516, filedAugust 13 1914, and entitled Storage batteries, to which applicationreference is hereby made for a more detailed description.

In storage batteries of the Edison type as usually constructed, thepositive and negative plates are respectively mounted on and securedtogether by a pair of metallic rods or bolts, being spaced from eachother by metallic washers on these rods or bolts. Each of the rods orbolts passes through the lower end portion of a vertical rod which isdisposed between two adjacent plates, and his rod extends above thecontainer through the top thereof and serves as one of the poles o1terminals of the cell to the outer end portion of which connection ismade to convey current to or from the cell or to connect the cell withan adjacent cell. In such a construction there is considerable loss ofenergy when the cell is charged and discharged, on account of theresistance in the numerous oints in the paths of the current to or fromeach of the pole connections. By the construction which will now bedescribed, these losses are largely eliminated and a considerable savingof weight in the cell is effected. In each cell the positive plates 3are each provided adjacent one side with an integral vertical projectionor portion 17 and the negative plates 1- are each provh ed adjacent theopposite side with an integral vertical projection or portion 18. Theprojections 17 are each in the same plane as the respective positiveplate 3 of which it is a part and all theseprojections extend through astufiing box B secured in the top 2 of the container. All theprojections 18, except those of the two outside negative plates 4, areeach in the same plane as the respective plate 4 of which it forms apart, and extend through a stufling box B secured in the top 2 of thecontainer.

construction no losses such as above by any suitable The projections 17and 18 which extend through the stuffing boxes B and B form the poles orterminals of the cell and the outer end portions thereof serve asconvenient means for making electrical connection with the cell, as willbe hereinafter described. It will be obvious that in tlps (escribed canoccur, as the plates and poles are integrally formed. Each projection 17or 18 is made of sufficient size to readily carry a current considerablygreater than that for which its respective plate is designed andconsequently the internal resistance of the cell is small.

The length of the cell depends on the number of plates therein and thelength of the stutling boxes B and B required for the respective seriesof projections 17 and 18. If all the projections 18 of the negativeplates were extended through the stufiing box B, the latter would haveto be somewhat longer than stu'liing box B as the number of negativeplates is greater by one than the number of positive plates.Accordingly, the projections 18 of the two outside negative plates areeach terminated inside. the container 1. and electrically connectedabove the level of the electrolyte A to the adjacent negative plate andonly the projections of the remainder of the negative plates areextended through the stufling box B. Therefore, the latter may be madeslightly shorter than stuiling box B, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and at,whereby considerable reduction in the length of dontainer 1 and inconsequence a saving in the amount of electrolyte and weight of the cellmay be effected. The electrical connection of each outside plate 4 withthe adjacent negative plate is preferably effected by deflectinginwardly the upper end portion of the projection 18 of the outside plateand connecting the same directly to the adjacent projection 18 as bymeans of bolts 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. As there is but a singlepositive plate 3 adjacent each outside negative plate 4:, theoreticallythere will be only one-half the current generated in such negative plateas in the adjacent negative plate, and consequently, the currentcarrying capacity of the projection 18 of the latter will not beovertaxed by the additional current from the negative plate electricallyconnected therewith.

Each of the stufiing boxes B and B is secured to the container top 2 ina substantially rectangular opening extending lengthwise of thecontainer, the material of the top at the edge of the opening beingformed into an upstanding flange 20. Each of the stuffing boxespreferably comprises a pair of flanged hard rubber members or bushings21 and 22 and a suitable resilient packing member 23, preferably of softrubber, in

terposed between members 21 and 22. A pair of metallic plates 24 and 25are respectively disposed above the upper member or bushing 21 andbeneath the lower member of each stufling box, and bolts 26 are passedthrough members 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, the heads of the bolts bearing onthe upper plate 24: and the lower ends thereof being threaded into thelower plate25. Parts 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are provided with registeringopenings or slots through which the projections 17 or 18 extend. Thesurfaces of members 21 and 22 which engage the packing member areprovided with ridged portions 27 parallel to and adjacent the openingstherein. It will be obvious that on tightening bolts 26, members 21 and22 will be forced toward each other and the soft rubber members 23 willthereby be compressed and expanded laterally to form fluid tight jointswith the projections 17 and 18. By reason of the raised or ridgedportions 27 but a comparatively slight movement of members 21 and 22toward each other is necessary in order to expand member laterallysufficiently to render the joints fluid tight.

The projections 17 and 18 which extend through the stufling boxes areeach provided with shoulders 28 which engage the plates 25 and serve toprevent outward movement of the battery elements or plates with respectto the container when the cell is lifted by its terminals.

The projections 17 and 18 of each cell are preferably respectivelyrigidly connected together in spaced relation at their outer ends abovethe stufling boxes B and. B in a plurality of groups, each of whichgroups comprises a plurality of adjacent projections. There arepreferably a set of three such groups of projections 17 and 18respectively and the projections of the central group of each setpreferably extend a slight distance above the projections of theadjacent groups.

The projections of the two outer groups of each set are rigidlyconnected together by horizontal bolts 29 and nuts 30, while theprojections of the central group are connected together above the othergroups by horizontal bolts 31 and nuts 32. The projections of each groupare properly spaced by members or blocks 33 preferably of copper throughwhich the bolts 29 and 31 extend. The bolts 29 which connect the projections of the outer groups of each set also respectively extendthrough the outside projections of the central group whereby all, theprojections 17 and 18 respectively are rigidly connected. By thisconstruction, the removal or insertion of the bolts 29 and 31 of anycell. of a battery of cells arranged side by side is not interfered withby an adjacent cell.

A plurality of heavy bars 34, preferably of copper, are employed forconnecting the positive terminals or projections 17 of one cell with thenegative terminals or projections 18 of an adjacent cell of a battery,the ends of each of these bars being respectively disposed between twoof the adjacent projections 17 and 18 in place of blocks 33 and securedin place by the bolts 29 or 31 which are passed therethrough. The arrangement of bars 31 is preferably such that each of the projections 17of one cell and each of the projections 18 of the other cell whichextend above the. container contact directly with one of the bars,whereby the current will be uniformly and evenly distributed among theplates of each cell. The bars 34; are preferably symmetrically disposedon each side of a vertical plane passing transversely and centrallythrough each of the cells connected thereby and serve to maintain thesecells properly spaced and to brace the same from each other. Each cell.is preferably provided with the usual filling opening in the top 2thereof which is normally maintained closed by a cap or cover 35.

Reference character 38 indicates generally a safety device secured inthe top 2 of the container for controlling the escape of gases from andthe admission of air to the interior of the cell, and is preferablysimisure to the surface of the electrolyte through the safety device. 38or suction to the upper end of the tubular member. This device forremoving the electrolyte is similar to that disclosed and claimed in anapplication of Miller Reese Hutchison, Serial No. 831,293 filed April25, 191i and entitled Storage batteries.

It is to be understood that many changes in the shape, size andarrangement of parts of the construction shown and described herein maybe made without any departure from the spirit of my invention, and thescope of the appended claims.

Having now described by invention, What I claim as new and desire toprotect by U. S. Letters Patent is as follows 1. In a storage batterycell, the combination of a container, and a plurality of plates therein,one of said plates being electrically connected within the container andabove the surface of the electrolyte to another plate of like polarity,and others of said plates having projections extending through the topof the container, substantially as described.

2. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, and agroup of positive and negative plates therein, the two outside plates ofthe group each being connected at its upper end portion with the nextadjacent plate of like polarity, all the remaining plates ha ingextensions projecting through the top of the container, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, and aplurality of substantially parallel plates or elements therein, the twooutside plates each being electrically connected within the containerand above the surface of the electrolyte to the next adjacent plate oflike polarity, all the remain ing plates having extensions projectingthrough the top of the container and constituting the poles or terminalsof the cell, substantially as described.

-l. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, and aplurality of substantially parallel plates therein, the upper endportion of each outside plate being deflected inwardly and directlyconnected within the container and above the sur face of the electrolyteto the next adjacent plate of like polarity, all the remaining plateshaving extensions projecting through the top of the container andconstituting the poles or terminals of the cell, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, a group ofalternately arranged positive and negative plates therein, and a pair ofstufling boxes secured to the top of the container, all the platesexcept the two outside plates of the group having projections extendingthrough said stuffing boxes, the projections of the positive platesextending through one of said stufling boxes and the projections of thenegative plates extending through the other of said stufling boxes, thetwo outside plates being each electrically connected at its upper endportion with the next adjacent plate of like polarity, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, aplurality of substantially parallel plates therein, each having aportion extending through the top of the container, and a stufiing boxsecured in the top of said container and provided with substantiallyparallel openings through which said portions respectively pass, saidstuffing box comprising a resilient packing and a relatively movablemember provided with means whereby a slight relative movement of saidmember and packing toward each other will effect a comparatively greatlatw e-A 1 eral expansion of the packing to form fluidtight jointsbetween said container top and said plates, substantially as described.

7. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, aplurality of substantially pa allel plates therein each having a portionextending through the top of the container, and a stuliing box securedin the top of the container and provided with a plurality ofsubstantially parallel openings through which said portions respectivelypass, said stuffing box comprising a resilient packing member, a rigidmember engaging the same and means for forcing said members together tocompress the packing member and expanding it laterally to formfluidtight joints between said container top and the plates, the surfaceof said rigid member engaging the resilient packing member having raisedportions or ridges whereby but a slight movement of said members to wardeach other is necessary in order to expand the packing member laterallyto form said fluid-tight joints, substantially as described.

S. A stuffing box for storage battery cells comprising a. rigid member,a resilient member, means for forcing said members together to compresssaid resilient member and expand the same laterally, said members eachbeing provided with a series of substantially parallel openings orslots, the openings of the two series respectively registering, andmeans whereby a slight relative movement of the rigid member andresilient member toward each other will effect a comparatively greatlateral expansion of the resilient member, substantially as described.

9. A stuffing box for storage battery cells comprising a rigid memberhaving a series of substantially parallel slots thcrethrough, aresilient member engaging the rigid memher and having a series ofsubstantially parallel slots therethrough respectively registering withthe slots of the rigid member, and means for forcing said memberstogether to compress the resilient member and expand the same laterally,the surface of said rigid member engaging the resilientmember beingprovided between the slots therein with ridged portions substantiallyparallel to the slots, substantially as described.

10. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, and aplurality of plates therein, said plates having projections extendingthrough the top of the container, said projections being securedtogether at difierent levels exteriorly of the container in a pluralityof groups, each such group comprising a plurality of adjacentprojections, substantially as described.

11. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, aplurality of plates therein, said plates having parallel projectionsarranged adjacent each other in a row, said projections extendingthrough the top of the container, a plurality of groups of saidprojections, each group comprising a plurality of adjacent projectionsextending to different levels above the container, and means forconnecting the projections of each group together, comprising asubstantially horizontal member passing through the projections of thegroup, the connecting members for the projections of each pair ofadjacent groups being respectively located at different levels,substantially as described.

12. In combination, a pair of storage battery cells each comprising acontainer having a plurality of positive and negative plates therein,and a plurality of conduct ing members, said members being directlyconnected to different pairs respectively of the positive plates of onecell and to difierent pairs respectively of the negative plates of theother cell, substantially as described.

13. In combination, a pair of storage battery cells each comprising acontainer having a plurality of positive and negative plates therein,and a plurality of conducting bars, each of said bars having one enddisposed between and in engagement with two adjacent positive plates ofone cell and its other end disposed between and in engagement with twoadjacent negative plates of the other cell, substantially as described.

14. In combination, a pair of storage battery cells each comprising acontainer having a plurality of positive and negative plates therein,the plates of each cell having substantially parallel portionsprojecting above the respective container through thetop thereof, thenegative and positive plates of each cell respectively having theirprojecting portions rigidly connected together in spaced relation, andmeans for electrically connecting and bracing the cells comprising aplurality of ri 'd conducting bars, each of said bars being rigidlysecured at one end to the projecting portions of a pair of adjacentpositive plates of one cell and at its other end to the projectingportions of a pair of adjacent negative plates of the other cell,substantially as described.

15. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, and agroup of plates therein, the outside plates of the group each beingelectrically connected within the container and above the surface of theelectrolyte to a plate of like polarity, the remaining plates havingprojections extending through the top of the container, substantially asdescribed.

16. A stuffing box for storage battery cells comprising a resilientelement provided with an opening in which a conductor is adapted to bedisposed, and means for expanding said element laterally to form afluidtight joint between the same and a conductor disposed in theopening therein comprising a relatively movable member provided withmeans whereby a slight relative movement of such member and theresilient element toward each other will effeet a comparatively greatlateral expansion of the resilient element, substantially as described.

17. In a storage battery cell, the combination of a container, aplurality of plates therein, said plates having projections extendingthrough the top of the container, there being a plurality of groups ofsaid projections, and means for connecting the projections of each grouptogether, the connecting means for each pair of adjacent groups beinglocated at diflerent levels, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 12th day of August, 1914.

CHARLES W. NORTON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. HARDY, MARY J. LAIDLAW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

